State Rep. Nate Bell Continues to Mislead, Falsify Facts

(LITTLE ROCK) In another attempt to distract voters from the issues, Republican State Representative Nate Bell continued his pattern of falsifying facts for his own political gain, turning his attention this weekend to mislead Arkansans on restrictive laws that have kept veterans, minorities, women, religious workers, and even former members of Congress from lawfully casting their vote.

“Representative Bell continues to outright falsify facts and mislead Arkansans,” Candace Martin, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Arkansas said. “After he misquoted Adolph Hitler to make a comparison that Democrats were like Nazis, one would think that Bell would take more care in choosing his words and be honest with the voters on the issues, but his latest comments show that Bell has no interest in being honest with Arkansans.”

Representative Bell tweeted over the weekend of the “talk about ‘hypothetical’ voters ‘potentially’ being disenfranchised by ID requirements. Where are the documented cases?”

Numerous cases of voters being turned away from the polls after Voter ID laws took effect have been reported, including a former Congressman in Tennessee and a dozen nuns in Indiana.

“Rep. Bell is trying to distract Arkansans from the issues that matter,” Martin continued. “While Republicans like Bell are more focused on making it more difficult for folks to vote, Arkansans want their elected officials to work on creating jobs and improving education. This is just more proof that if Nate Bell ever tries to pretend he’s focused on the economy, it’s just more of his political dishonesty.”

In July of 2011, Nate Bell took to social media to falsify facts by comparing Democrats to Nazis, after a bill passed banning cell phone use while parked in a school zone.

Background

Former congressman Lincoln Davis was denied the opportunity to vote in a primary election after a Voter ID law in Tennessee took effect.  Davis had been registered in his hometown in Fentress County, but Davis and his wife were told that he had been removed from the voter rolls and could not vote. A former marine was also denied the right to vote during the same election. (The Tennessean, Wilson and Young, 3/7/2012)

More than a dozen nuns and an unknown numbers of students were turned away from the polls in Indiana in 2008 after a voter ID law was enacted. The nuns, all residents of a retirement home at Saint Mary’s Convent near Notre Dame University were denied ballots because the sisters did not have valid Indiana photo ID cards. (Los Angeles Times, “ID law keeps nuns, students from polls”, 5/7/2008)

Women are targets of Voter ID laws. Since American women change their names in about 90 percent of marriages and divorces, newly married or recently divorced women whose legal names do not match those of their current  photo ID will face opposition when voting. (The American Prospect, “New Voter ID Laws Target Women”, 2012)

Bell wrote on his Facebook page “comparing Dems to Nazis is wayyy to easy”.  Bell went on to list bills passed during the 2011 legislative session and said “dems use children to pass bad legislation regularly.” One of the bills cited by Bell actually referred to a new law introduced by a Republican House member. (Associated Press, “Arkansas Rep. invokes Nazis in criticism of Democrats”, 7/26/2011)

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The 2012 Democratic National Convention is just a few months away. This memorable experience is open to all Arkansas Democrats who wish to file to run for delegate to the Democratic National Convention, and the filing period begins next week!

In order to run, all interested candidates must complete the delegate filing form here and return it to the DPA with a contribution form and a voluntary contribution of $25 to help defer the cost of participation. Required paperwork can be submitted in person or via mail at 1300 W. Capitol Ave, Little Rock, Ark. 72201, via fax at (501) 376-8409, or via email at nationalconvention@arkdems.org.

The filing period opens on May 14, 2012 and closes on May 18, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. You won’t want to miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity, and we encourage all registered voters who consider themselves Democrats to run for delegate or alternate to the Democratic National Convention.

There are two paths to becoming a national delegate. District Level delegates are elected in the morning by their respective congressional districts. At-Large Delegates are selected in the afternoon by the whole convention. Be sure to note that candidates running for district-level delegate or alternate may only run within the congressional district in which he or she is registered to vote for the upcoming election in 2012. To verify which district a voter is registered in, please contact the county clerk in your area.

Delegates will be voted on at the DPA State Convention on June 16 at the Robinson Center in Little Rock, so be sure to mark your calendar with this important date.

With warmest regards,

Will Bond

Chairman

Democratic Party of Arkansas

Arkansas Federation of Democratic Women State Convention

The AFDW State Convention will be on Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12, 2012. The festivities will begin on Friday evening at Mosaic Templars at 5:00 p.m. This will be a reception where Gov. Mike Beebe will be the key note speaker and many other candidates will be there to introduce themselves and talk about their races. Then, at 7:30 p.m. the Pulaski County Democratic Women will host a dessert reception at the Holiday Inn Presidential. On Saturday, May 12, the State Convention Meeting will be held at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. The theme will be Democratic Women in the Legislature. Election of Officers will be one of the highlights of the day. It’s a great time to be a Democrat—let’s all come to the convention and celebrate our great Democratic Leaders.

Nevada County Democrats Cake Walk and Hot Dog Supper

The Nevada County Democrats committee will sponsor a cake walk and hot dog supper at the Nevada County Court house lawn on Friday May 11, 2012 @ 6:00 pm Come and join and get to know the candidates that are currently seeking a position. If you want to be added as a candidate to speak please send your email to: Elaine Williams ewrecyc@centurytel.net or call 870-887-2085. We look forward to an exciting evening as well as a great fundraiser for the committee. Cake bids starting at $20. Hot Dog supper $4 includes drink. SEE YOU THERE!

Greene County Democratic Central Committee May Meeting

Greene County Democrats will hold their monthly meeting on Monday, May 14 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Greene County Court House.

Garland County Central Committee May Meeting

The Garland County Democratic Central Committee will hold their monthly meeting on May 16, 2012 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Arkansas School for Math, Science and the Arts on 200 Whittington Ave. in Hot Springs.

Polk County Democrats

The Polk County Democratic Committee will host an event on May 17 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. with special guest Governor Mike Beebe at the Historic Armory in DeQueen. For more information, please call Chairman David Ray at (479) 243-5260 or email him at jdraycpa@sbcglobal.net.

Baxter County Democratic Club Jefferson-Jackson Fund Raiser

Baxter County Democratic Club will host their annual Jefferson-Jackson Fund Raiser at the Baxter County Fairgrounds on Saturday, May 19. Social hour begins at 6:00 p.m. and dinner begins at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $25.00 each and advertising is available in the program.

Moreland Fire Department Pig Roast 2012

Candidates are invited to come and meet the community at this annual event on May 19, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 9425 Sr124 in Russellville.

Randolph County Democratic Watch Party

May 22 7:00 to 10:00 P.M. Democratic Election Night Watch Party sponsored by Randolph Democratic Central Committee at the “Old Hotel” lobby on the southside of the Court square in Pocahontas.  Food, Music and election results and lots of visiting and politics are on the agenda.

Virginia Clinton Kelley Democratic Women Meeting

Virginia Clinton Kelley Democratic Women meet at the Garland County Headquarters, 608 West Grand Avenue in Hot Springs on May 22 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

P.S. Don’t forget the primary election day on Tuesday, May 22! You can go early vote today at polling locations throughout the state. To find your polling location, contact your county clerk here.

Ken Aden Completes 253-Mile Run for Hunger

Aden Rescues Woman in Vehicle Accident During Run

Democratic nominee for the Third Congressional District Ken Aden completed a 253-mile run through ten Arkansas counties to raise cans of food for local food shelters and raise awareness about hunger in Arkansas. While completing the run, Aden rescued a woman from an overturned vehicle after an auto accident.

News coverage follows.

Aden responded to car crash victim

By Heather Sprinkle, Russellville Courier News

Ken Aden’s third day of his Run 4 Hunger II found him not only running in the rain during a flash flood warning in Boone County, it found him rescuing an accident victim from her overturned car.

Aden was running north on State Highway 7 a few miles from the Harrison border when he came upon a recent accident.

…

Aden crawled into the car and pulled Cantwell to safety. Cantwell suffered lacerations to her face, torso and arms.
…
Read the full story here.

AR-03: Aden Begins Run To End Hunger

By Blue Arkansas

This weekend, AR-03 Democratic candidate Ken Aden began the second Run To End Hunger.  The run will carry Aden the entire length of the third district, from Russelville to the Missouri border and around down to Fort Smith.  Last I checked in, over 8,000 cans had been pledged to help out needy families if Ken completes the run, and as of the writing Ken is just leaving Jasper.

…

So let’s pitch in and help Ken in the fight against poverty and hunger in our state.  You can pledge to contribute cans here.  How many cans of green beans or soup do you have sitting in your pantry that you can spare?  Even if it’s just two or three, each can would be a blessing to a needy Arkansas family.

…

Read the full story here.

Have you voted yet? Early voting for primary elections begins today and continues until Election Day on May 22^nd.  You can find information on polling locations by contacting your county clerk through the contact information here or on the Secretary of State’s website here.

This is a busy season for Arkansas Democrats across the state and the General Election will be here before we know it. That’s why the Democratic Party of Arkansas has been working with all our auxiliaries to develop voter registration plans and elect Democrats in the fall. Get involved in our efforts by emailing us here and volunteering.

Our staff will be traveling throughout the state to help with training sessions for county committees as well. We trained over 40 Democrats in Washington County last month, and we will be in Crittenden County tonight and in Independence County tomorrow night to continue training sessions throughout the state.  Click here for the details for this week’s trainings.

If your county is interested in hosting a training session, please email us here, and our staff will contact you about sessions you are interested in hosting.

Above all else, don’t forget to GO VOTE! You can vote early between today and primary election day on May 22.

With warmest regards,

Will Bond

Chairman

Democratic Party of Arkansas

Ken Aden: Run 4 Hunger

Ken Aden will speak about his recent “Run to End Hunger” as well as other issues in the 3^rd Congressional District today at 7:00 p.m. at Mojito’s Mexican Grill on 100 Joyce Blvd., Suite 111 in Fayetteville. Not only did Ken do an incredible job raising awareness about hungry and providing needed food to Arkansans in need. During his run, he rescued a woman from her overturned car after an accident. You can read about Ken’s emergency rescue here. Ken is running to serve all Arkansans and will bring leadership that listens to the people in the Third Congressional District. Find out how you can get involved in Ken’s campaign by going to Mojito’s tonight and RSVP here!

Sevier County Democratic Forum

Sevier County Democratic Women will host a beans and cornbread supper on May 7, at the Community Building in Herman Dierks Park in DeQueen. The event will start at 5:30. This will be an opportunity for local candidates to speak. For more information, contact Jean Killian at (870) 584-4879 (h) or (870) 584-8950 (c).

Democratic Hispanic Caucus Event in Central Arkansas

Please join the Democratic Hispanic Caucus at an event at Vino’s on 923 W. 7^th Street in Little Rock on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. Four members of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus are running for office in Northwest Arkansas, including Diana Gonzalez Worthen for state senate in district 7, Yessie Hernandez for state representation in district 89, Maria Hicks for justice of the peace in Washington County district 7, and David Ibarra for constable in Benton County. Please come out and show your support! For more information, please call (479) 422-9273 or email demsunidos@gmail.com

Pulaski County Democratic Women

The meeting is on Thursday, May 10th (The night before the AFDW State Convention). The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at the DPA Headquarters at 1300 W. Capitol Ave. in Little Rock. We will have Candidates from Pulaski County and State-Wide candidates. Each of them will introduce themselves and tell us why we should vote for them. We have to paint Arkansas BLUE!

Arkansas Federation of Democratic Women State Convention

The AFDW State Convention will be on Friday, May 11, and Saturday, May 12, 2012. The festivities will begin on Friday evening at Mosaic Templars at 5:00 p.m. This will be a reception where Gov. Mike Beebe will be the key note speaker and many other candidates will be there to introduce themselves and talk about their races. Then, at 7:30 p.m. the Pulaski County Democratic Women will host a dessert reception at the Holiday Inn Presidential. On Saturday, May 12, the State Convention Meeting will be held at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. The theme will be Democratic Women in the Legislature. Election of Officers will be one of the highlights of the day. It’s a great time to be a Democrat—let’s all come to the convention and celebrate our great Democratic Leaders.

Nevada County Democrats Cake Walk and Hot Dog Supper

The Nevada County Democrats committee will sponsor a cake walk and hot dog supper at the Nevada County Court house lawn on Friday May 11, 2012 @ 6:00 pm Come and join and get to know the candidates that are currently seeking a position. If you want to be added as a candidate to speak please send your email to: Elaine Williams ewrecyc@centurytel.net or call 870-887-2085. We look forward to an exciting evening as well as a great fundraiser for the committee. Cake bids starting at $20. Hot Dog supper $4 includes drink. SEE YOU THERE!

Candidates for National Democratic Convention file with the DPA

In order to run as a delegate for the 2012 National Democratic Convention, interested candidates must file with the Democratic Party of Arkansas at state headquarters, 1300 W. Capitol Avenue, Little Rock by noon on the closing date of filing. Filing begins on Monday, May 14 and ends on Friday, May 18. Please call state party headquarters at (501) 374-2361 for more information on how to become a delegate.

Greene County Democratic Central Committee May Meeting

Greene County Democrats will hold their monthly meeting on Monday, May 14 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Greene County Court House.

Garland County Central Committee May Meeting

The Garland County Democratic Central Committee will hold their monthly meeting on May 16, 2012 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Arkansas School for Math, Science and the Arts on 200 Whittington Ave. in Hot Springs.

Polk County Democrats

The Polk County Democratic Committee will host an event on May 17 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. with special guest Governor Mike Beebe at the Historic Armory in DeQueen. For more information, please call Chairman David Ray at (479) 243-5260 or email him at jdraycpa@sbcglobal.net.

Baxter County Democratic Club Jefferson-Jackson Fund Raiser

Baxter County Democratic Club will host their annual Jefferson-Jackson Fund Raiser at the Baxter County Fairgrounds. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.00 each and advertising is available in the program.

Moreland Fire Department Pig Roast 2012

Candidates are invited to come and meet the community at this annual event on May 19, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 9425 Sr124 in Russellville.

Virginia Clinton Kelley Democratic Women Meeting

Virginia Clinton Kelley Democratic Women meet at the Garland County Headquarters, 608 West Grand Avenue in Hot Springs on May 22 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

P.S. Don’t forget the primary election day on Tuesday, May 22! You can go early vote today at polling locations throughout the state. To find your polling location, contact your county clerk here.

Arkansas Democrats File to Run for Delegate to Democratic National Convention

(LITTLE ROCK) The Democratic Party of Arkansas today announced the filing period for those interested in running to serve as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Filing opens on May 14, 2012 and closes on May 18, 2012. Any person interested in becoming a candidate for delegate must submit all relevant paperwork to the DPA Headquarters no later than 5:30 p.m. on May 18 or the items must be postmarked on or before Friday.

Interested candidates must complete the delegate filing form and return it to the DPA with a contribution form and a voluntary contribution of $25 to help defer the cost of participation. Required paperwork can be submitted in person or via mail at 1300 W. Capitol Ave, Little Rock, Ark. 72201, via fax at (501) 376-8409, or via email at nationalconvention@arkdems.org.

The Democratic National Convention will be held the week of September 3, 2012 in Charlotte, NC. Delegates and alternates are responsible for their own travel and housing costs. All Arkansas registered voters who consider themselves Democrats are eligible to run for delegate or alternate to the Democratic National Convention; however, a district-level delegate and alternate candidate may run for election only within the district in which he or she is registered to vote for the upcoming election in 2012. To verify which district a voter is registered in, please contact the county clerk.

Arkansas has a total of 55 delegates and three alternates, consisting of eight unpledged elected official delegates, five pledged Party leader and elected official delegates, 31 district-level delegates and two alternates, and 11 at-large delegates and one alternate. The delegation will be selected at the DPA State Convention on June 16 in Little Rock.

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Democratic Party of Arkansas Statement on False Attacks on Sen. Mark Pryor

(LITTLE ROCK) In a disgusting display of politics-at-its worst, false attacks pulled out of thin air by special interests ratcheted up today against Senator Mark Pryor.  Candace Martin of the Democratic Party of Arkansas released the following statement in response:

“These sort of conjured-up attacks are exactly the kind of rhetoric that has broken Washington and are constant distractions from addressing the issues facing our nation.  The porn industry has joined an Arkansas Republican activist in attempts at manufacturing outlandish attacks on Arkansas’s US Senator.

“Senator Pryor fought to prevent children accessing porn online and now the porn industry is striking back, with some Arkansas Republicans applauding the false antics of the porn industry.  This is disgusting and I call on Arkansas Republicans to condemn these hoax stories immediately.”

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 Congressman Crawford Disastrous Record on Agriculture Cuts Threatens Farm Bill

This week, the House Agriculture Committee announced they will be holding hearings over the proposed 2012 Farm Bill, but the farm bill could be in jeopardy because of extreme cuts supported by Rick Crawford. Last month, Crawford supported the  House Republican budget which calls for over $30 billion in cuts to essential agriculture programs for Arkansas farmers even though his district received 63% of all subsides to Arkansas farmers. The USA Rice Association said that they were “troubled” by the proposed cuts and American Soybean Association called the proposal “worrisome.”

“Congressman Rick Crawford continues to fail Arkansas farmers,” said Candace Martin of the Democratic Party of Arkansas. “Although Republicans and Democrats have come together to support reasonable cuts to agriculture in order to reduce our deficit, the farm bill and key agriculture programs could now be in jeopardy because of these troubling cuts supported by Congressman Crawford. Arkansas famers deserve a Representative that will truly fight for the economic interests of the district and be a strong voice for the vital cotton, rice and soybean industries.”

Background

Crawford Voted for Budget with At Least $30 billion in Agriculture Cuts. According to Delta Farm Press, “the plan would cut agriculture spending some $30 billion over the next decade and those writing the next farm bill will have to adhere to those limits.” In addition, “the House Budget committee has specified FY 2013 reconciliations savings for six committees, including the Agriculture Committee to achieve $33.2 billion over 10 years (2012-2022). However, Chairman Ryan’s proposal says the six committees ‘will be responsible for determining how to meet their reconciliation instructions.’” [Delta Farm Press, 3/20/12; Western Farm Press, 3/21/12; H Con Res 112, Vote #151, 3/29/12]

Farmers Facing Uncertainty Because of Ryan Budget. “Farmers may face some uncertainty by harvest time as Congress grapples with rewriting the farm bill before it expires in September. On the table are big cuts in federal farm spending […] [The] road might be rougher than [House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas is] letting on, thanks to the House budget road map authored by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan.” The Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee said that the Ryan budget would “guarantee there will be no farm bill this year.” [National Public Radio, 4/9/12; Bloomberg, 3/20/12]

American Soybean Association Critical of Proposal. Danny Murphy of the American Soybean Association said that “The cuts that Chairman Ryan proposes … are significantly higher than those agreed upon by House and Senate agriculture committee leadership during the ‘super committee’ process last fall, and that concerns us. Especially worrisome is (Ryan’s) emphasis on the federal crop insurance program as an area for reduction. Crop insurance serves as the main safety net for America’s farmers, and its integrity must be protected.” [Delta Farm Press, 3/21/12; American Soybean Association, 3/20/12]

USA Rice Association “Troubled” by Ryan Budget Proposal. “The USA Rice Federation is seriously troubled by the level of proposed budget cuts to agriculture programs included in the fiscal year 2012 budget resolution offered by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan [….]The resolution proposes $175 billion in cuts over 10 years — a reduction of more than 20 percent to the budget baseline for agriculture and nutrition programs. ‘Agriculture is being asked to shoulder a hugely disproportionate share of deficit reduction relative to our impact on the federal budget,” USA Rice Federation chairman and Louisiana rice producer Jackie Loewer said. ‘We have already sustained significant budget cuts, and contributed $4 billion to deficit reduction in the SRA negotiations, yet we are being subjected to proposed cuts that would make crafting the next farm bill all but impossible.’” [Delta Farm Press, 4/6/11]

National Farmers Union: Congress Balancing Budget on Backs of Rural America. “National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson said “Once again, we see that Congress is attempting to balance the budget on the backs of rural America. The proposed cuts to Agriculture spending would severely constrain the ability of the next farm bill to provide policy that protects against yield losses and when markets collapse […] Agriculture has been ready and willing to do its part in reducing the federal deficit, but Rep. Ryan’s budget proposes total cuts to farm bill spending of more than $155 billion. A cut of more than $33 billion to the safety net over the next ten years is too much. This is $10 billion more than the agreement reached late last year in a bipartisan, bicameral manner by the House and Senate Agriculture Committees.” [National Farmers Union, 3/20/12]

Ryan’s Cuts So Deep It Would Dismember Bi-partisan House and Senate Bill.  “Published comments by Congressman Rick Berg, R-N.D., about a new farm bill seem to be at odds with his voting record in the U.S. House. An enthusiastic supporter of the so-called Ryan budget proposal, Berg also said he supports the U.S. Senate’s farm bill. That’s curious because farm bill provisions in Rep. Paul Ryan’s, R-Wis., budget plan are far different and far less generous than those in the Senate’s version […]What is not perfectly clear, however, is Berg’s vote for the Ryan budget as it relates to farm legislation. The Ryan ax slashes about $180 billion over 10 years in farm, conservation and nutrition funding. However, House and Senate agriculture committees agreed to cut $23 billion from the same farm bill programs. The difference is significant, to say the least […] The bill proposed by House and Senate ag committees makes major cuts in farm program spending, which are necessary. But the bipartisan Senate bill does not sacrifice a market-based safety net for producers. Nor does it scuttle a better USDA/private insurer crop insurance partnership. Ryan’s cuts are so deep they likely would dismember both.” [InForum Fargo Editorial, 4/17/12]

Statement by DPA Chairman Will Bond on Mitt Romney’s Hypocrisy in Opposing Affordable Care Act Just Six Years After Signing Health Reform and Individual Mandate into Law in Massachusetts

(LITTLE ROCK)– Today is the six-year anniversary of Mitt Romney signing health reform into law in Massachusetts. In the height of hypocrisy, Romney is now opposing the same principles of his own health reforms now that he’s running for president. Democratic Party of Arkansas Chairman Will Bond released the following statement on the anniversary of Romneycare:

“As Mitt Romney continues to say anything to get elected, it’s hard to believe that it was only six years ago that then-Governor Romney shared the President’s position that we should take on rising health care costs and provide affordable, accessible health care to all Americans.  He even included the individual mandate as part of the health reform legislation he signed into law in Massachusetts, which served as the national model for the Affordable Care Act.

“Now, Romney is running away from his own record and beliefs.  Romney wants to allow insurance companies to drop coverage at the very moment people need it most, to continue refusing to cover people with pre-existing conditions, to be able to charge women up to 50 percent more than men for the same coverage, and to have no obligation to cover important preventive care like regular checkups, mammograms, colonoscopies or other cancer screenings.

“What a difference six years has made.  Mitt Romney has sold out his principles in order to pander to far right Republican voters in the race for the GOP nomination.  Romney’s hypocrisy on any number of key issues, including health care reform, goes to the heart of the fundamental flaw of his candidacy: more and more voters are seeing that Romney has no core, and they don’t trust him to lead the country.”

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Congressman Crawford Flip Flops On Yet Another Position

Crawford Embraces Pork After Signing No Pork Pledge

Each day seems to bring another flip flop from Republican Congressman Rick Crawford. Whether it’s on tax policy, pork spending, or programs important to the people of the First Congressional District, Crawford reverses his position, causing Arkansans to question just where exactly does Crawford stand on the issues.

This weekend, Crawford embraced the need for pork spending, despite signing a “no pork pledge” when campaigning for office in 2010.

Read news coverage below.

Crawford gives ‘pork’ a rethink: Earmarks have place, he says

By Alex Daniels, Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Arkansas Republican U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, who took a “no pork pledge” as a candidate, said Friday that budget earmarks, often derided as “pork-barrel spending,” should make a comeback.

…

He said he’s not worried that the practice will increase the federal deficit and described using earmarks as a way to ensure that spending decisions are left to members of Congress familiar with their districts instead of “Washington bureaucrats.”

As a candidate in the 2010 race, Crawford was one of many Republicans who signed a “No Pork Pledge,” promoted by Citizens Against Government Waste, a Washington group that advocates for a smaller federal budget.

In the pledge, Crawford affirmed that he would not request any “pork-barrel earmark.”

…

The Arkansas Democratic Party said Crawford has “flipflopped” on the issue.

Candace Martin, the party’s spokesman, said Crawford also reversed himself in March when he proposed raising taxes for upper-income earners on the condition that Congress pass a balanced-budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“This is another example to add to the list of broken promises,” she said. “Arkansans don’t know where he stands.”

Read the full article here. http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2012/apr/08/crawford-gives-pork-rethink-20120408/

First CD News & Rick Crawford’s Broken Pledges

By Michael Cook, Cook’s Outlook

…

Incumbent Congressman Rick Crawford made some news over the weekend, and by doing so made it clear to voters his word is now officially mud.

In his 2010 campaign, Crawford signed two pledges: a “No Tax Hike Pledge” and a “No Pork Pledge.”

As you recall, Crawford recently proposed a new tax, thereby breaking his word, and one could reasonably argue that he lied to First District voters by breaking his pledge which said he would oppose ANY tax increase.

In Sunday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Crawford said he was now reconsidering his position on the signed “No Pork Pledge” created by the Citizens Against Government Waste, where he promised not to request any “pork-barrel earmark.”

However, Crawford said Sunday, “Constituents expect their congressman to bring back as many federal dollars as they can.  I’m only one voice in a very large geographic area. We’ve kind of hit a brick wall without the ability to earmark projects.”

Translation:  Bring on the pork!

Crawford’s actions have taken the game of signing campaign pledges off the table for 2012.  For example, if one candidate attacks another for not signing some pledge, the attacked candidate can just point out Congressman Crawford’s broken pledges, how silly they are and not worth the paper they’re printed on.

Rick Crawford has shown he has no core principles and is willing to break his word at the drop of a hat.  Moreover, Crawford has just given the eventual Democratic nominee more fodder for negative ads on how Washington has changed him.

Read the full story here. http://talkbusiness.net/2012/04/first-cd-news-rick-crawfords-broken-pledges/

What is Rick Crawford Thinking?

By Jason Tolbert, Tolbert Report

For the second time in the last month, Arkansas conservatives are scratching their heads and asking: what is Congressman Rick Crawford thinking?

…

Fast forward to this weekend, when Crawford is quoted in an article in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette saying he is rethinking his position on earmarks.

…

The problem for Crawford once again is that this policy shift is inconsistent with his “no pork” pledge he made during the 2010 campaign.

The pledge by an organization called Citizens Against Government Waste states that Crawford “will not request any pork-barrel earmark, which is defined as meeting one of the following criteria: requested by only one chamber of Congress, not specifically authorized, not competitively awarded, not requested by the President, greatly exceeds the President’s budget request or the previous year’s funding, not the subject of congressional hearings, or serves only a local or special interest.”

You will note that I have said Crawford’s two policy shifts are inconsistent with his pledges.  He has pointed out in a most awkward manner that he has technically not violated his no tax pledge as he has not yet voted for his own proposal.  He can and probably will also argue that this does not violate his pledge as he has not yet put in a request by merely explaining that he now sees the benefit for earmarks – but only with reforms – for a rural district such as the First Congressional District.

I am not sure if Crawford fully realizes the political fire he is playing with in these arguments.  It defies common sense to make a distinction between advocating for a plan or policy and the casting of the actual roll call vote.  It is like arguing over what the meaning of the word “is” is.

…

Read the full article here. http://talkbusiness.net/2012/04/what-is-rick-crawford-thinking/